Why trees along major Leicestershire road are being cut down

Trees along a busy Leicestershire A-road are being felled amid safety fears in the wake of a "highly destructive" disease infecting them. Officials on Leicestershire County Council (LCC) are taking actions amid fears they could pose a risk to pedestrians and drivers.

Work began earlier this week along the A511 between Coalville and Ashby due to the presence of ash dieback in a number of trees on the route. Ash dieback is a fungus which has destroyed thousands of ash trees across the country and can cause branches to fall off as the disease takes hold.

The county council says this poses a safety risk for those along the route, with work underway on felling trees between the A42 Flagstaff roundabout and the Hoo Ash roundabout. The work is being conducted by the council's forestry team and a contractor who are cutting back and clearing sections of the woodland, to improve the health of the remaining trees and allow new growth.

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The exact number of ash trees in Leicestershire is unclear, but it is estimated that there are more than half a million in the county. Around 120,000 of them at the side of roads, which is why the council is tackling the ash dieback outbreak on the A511.

A spokesperson for the council said any foliage which is obscuring road signs will also be cut back during its work. Meanwhile, the affected ash trees will be replaced by native species in a move the council hopes will allow other trees along the A511 to "thrive".

Councillor Blake Pain, LCC's cabinet member for environment and the green agenda, said: “Ash dieback is a significant challenge, but, through proactive management and replanting with native species, we’re maintaining public safety as well as ensuring the long-term health of our local woodlands. This work is part of our ongoing efforts to create space for nature and improve natural habitats, and supports our wider environmental pledge to plant 700,000 trees across the county, as we plan to replace felled trees with native species that will enhance biodiversity and help combat climate change.”

All timber removed during the works will be recycled, some being used for mulch or to make wood chippings. Similar works have already been carried out earlier this year along the A511 from Boundary to Flagstaff Island. Drivers are urged to drive carefully through the area while works are ongoing to ensure the safety of workers and the public.

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